The Descendents of the Brown and Fisher families met recently at Historic Grace Lower Stone Church in Rockwell for their annual reunion.
Members were invited to attend the morning services at the church.
President Norman Ribelin welcomed more than 100 members and guests to the reunion and luncheon. Larry Brown gave the invocation.
The luncheon was prepared by members of the Nathan Brown House Association and desserts were furnished by the members of the board of directors.
During the business meeting, president Riblein informed members that longtime board member Juanita Lagg was unable to attend the reunion due to the illness of her husband, Elmer. Member Grace Mariatt worked the registration table. Treasurer Larry Brown gave the treasurers report, including information about work at the Old Stone House.
Newly elected officers for 2013-2014 are: president, Norman Ribelin; vice-president, Stephen W. Brown; secretary, Patricia Bonds Beck; and treasurer. Larry Brown.
Board members are Ann Bostian, Juanita Fisher Lagg, Teresa Fox, Paul Brown, Todd Berg, Rod Kesler, S. Deane Brown and Sarah Z. Brown.
New Life members, recognized by Ribelin, include: Catherine (Becki) Brown Burrows of Salisbury, (Brown and Fisher descendent); Darvin J. Bruce and wife Lillian of Greensboro, (Brown descendent); Mary Frances Brown Ritchie and husband, The Rev. Carl Ritchie of Summerville, SC (Brown descendent); Charlotte (Cindy) Eller Hobbs of Raleigh, (Brown descendent).
Those attending were given life membership pins. The group now has 143 life members.
A moment of silent prayer was held for the Brown-Fisher descendents who have died since the last reunion.
Ribelin recognized the 15 first time attendees.
Keith Wolfe recognized members of the military attending for the first time: Darvin Jacob Bruce of Greensboro, 1958-1966 U.S. Army National Guard; Joe Bailey Brown Jr. of Olney, Tex., 1952-1954 U.S. Army; Paul Bryan Walker of Concord, 1988-1991 U.S. Army; Andrew Maxwell Brown of Rockwell, 1958-1964 U.S. Army; Randal Lee Burrows of Salisbury, 1965-1969 U.S. Coast Guard. This feature of the reunion was started in at the 1991 reunion at Grace Lower Stone. Seventy veterans have been honored through 2012.
Gold coins were given to the youngest person present: 5-week old Berkley Alexandra Brown, daughter of Ben and Candace Brown, a 11th generation Brown; the oldest person present: 94 year old John B. Fisher of Salisbury, a Brown and a Fisher descendent; those traveling the furthest distance: Joe Brown Jr. of Olney, Tex.; family with the most generations present: Larry Brown of Landis, with three generations.
Families with the most members present were Larry Brown with six members, Lane Brown with six members and Sue Pickett of Charlottesville, Va. with six members. Gift bags were given to the children 10 years old and younger in attendance: Bethany Anne Walker, Brianna Walker, Bryson Walker and Emma Clifton.
The Nathan Brown House Association displayed material on the Nathan Brown House, built in 1850s, which is located on N.C. 52 and was moved across the road in May 2005. It is being restored by the Nathan Brown Association.
Nathan Brown was one of the founders of Christiana Lutheran Church on N.C. 52 in Salisbury.
Doug Robinson gave an update on the progress of the restoration.
Patricia B. Beck recognized board member and editor of the newsletter “Rowan Roots,” Teresa Fox, who collects the information and works with the publisher.
Beck asked members to submit articles on their family for the newsletter. A photo taken during the 1991 reunion was displayed and members were asked to identify the people in the photo.
A raffle was held for a clock with a picture of the Old Stone House as well as a framed and unframed photo of the Old Stone House. Raffle winners were: clock – Bill Rubble; framed photo – Bethany Walker; unframed photo – Brandy Fox.
The next reunion will be held in September 2014, the time and location to be determined.
For information about the Brown Fisher Association, contact Patricia B. Beck at pbbeck 34 @carolina.rr.com or visit brownfisher.org.

The Rowan Doll Society of Salisbury held its September meeting as a tribute to past president, Robin Wyatt’s new position.
Wyatt was recently elected Region VIII Director of the United Federation of Doll Clubs during the annual meeting held in Washington, DC.
The region director is in charge of overseeing all the UFDC doll clubs in Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky for a three year period.
Wyatt is a native of Cabarrus Countyand lives in Concord with her husband, Mark Wyatt.
She has made porcelain dolls as a hobby for 20 and received her doll artisan certification in 2000 and her master dollmaking title in 2004.
Her travels have also resulted in an varied doll collection but German bisque and composition dolls are her favorites.
Wyatt is also a member of the Queen Ann’s Revenge Doll Club of North Carolina and has been on the board of the High Point Doll and Miniature Museum.
Kathy Gregg is the new President of the Rowan Doll Society.

The Yadkin House recently hosted its 10th annual Honorary Luncheon to recognize those that serve and protect in Rowan County.
The police, fire department and emergency personnel were invited to this annual sit-down lunch where the residents of Yadkin House come together and prepare an array of delicious sides and desserts with a down-home southern twist. The main dishes were prepared locally by Chef Santos as a way to give back to the community.
Winners of the giveaways during the luncheon were Derek Tilley, Larry Keith, Halsey Hoosier and Greg Pannell.